2027 Best General Studies Schools in Pennsylvania
General Studies programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their general studies programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general studies students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for General Studies in Pennsylvania
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the general studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in General Studies
Carnegie Mellon University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general studies. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Carnegie Mellon University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $89,327 in their early career. Carnegie Mellon University graduates carry a median of $25,515 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general studies from Carnegie Mellon University
Villanova University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 13 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $52,183. Villanova University graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans.
Read more about the general studies program at Villanova University
A rank of #3 makes Alvernia University one of the top schools for general studies. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Reading. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 36 general studies degrees were awarded at Alvernia University in the most recent year. General Studies graduates of Alvernia University earn a median of $53,960 early in their careers. Alvernia University graduates carry a median of $31,900 in student loans.
See the full general studies program report for Alvernia University
Carlow University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general studies, ranking #4. Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 13 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Carlow University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Carlow University generally make around $66,938. Carlow University graduates carry a median of $30,222 in student loans.
Get the full general studies details for Carlow University
Butler County Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general studies, ranking #5. Butler County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Butler. There were roughly 32 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Butler County Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Butler County Community College generally make around $28,138. Butler County Community College graduates carry a median of $6,932 in student loans.
Read more about the general studies program at Butler County Community College
Harcum College earned the #6 position for general studies this year. Harcum College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bryn Mawr. About 19 general studies degrees were awarded at Harcum College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Harcum College generally make around $40,238. Students borrow a median of $26,756 to complete this degree.
Get the full general studies details for Harcum College
Delaware County Community College placed #7 among the best general studies schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Media. Delaware County Community College awarded about 82 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $29,277 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,797.
More information about a degree in general studies from Delaware County Community College
Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg landed the #8 spot for general studies this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Harrisburg. Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg awarded about 121 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg earn around $30,455 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,643.
See the full general studies program report for Harrisburg Area Community College Harrisburg
Community College Of Allegheny County came in at #9 for general studies this year. Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Community College Of Allegheny County awarded about 352 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. General Studies graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $25,898 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,217 to complete this degree.
Read more about the general studies program at Community College Of Allegheny County
Bucks County Community College came in at #10 for general studies this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of Newtown. Bucks County Community College awarded about 18 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $24,235 in their early career. Bucks County Community College graduates carry a median of $10,426 in student loans.
See the full general studies program report for Bucks County Community College
Lehigh Carbon Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the rural area of Schnecksville. There were roughly 111 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Lehigh Carbon Community College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general studies program make about $19,448 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,000.
Read more about the general studies program at Lehigh Carbon Community College
Northampton County Area Community College earned the #12 position for general studies this year. Set in the suburb of Bethlehem, Northampton County Area Community College is a large public institution. Northampton County Area Community College awarded about 66 general studies degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general studies degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $23,879. Students borrow a median of $15,250 to complete this degree.
Get the full general studies details for Northampton County Area Community College
Pennsylvania Highlands Community College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best general studies schools. Set in the rural area of Johnstown, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is a mid-sized public institution. There were roughly 67 general studies students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general studies degree from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College earn around $24,728 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,488.
More information about a degree in general studies from Pennsylvania Highlands Community College
More General Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
